Schools receive more than $60,000 in robotics grants

The reactions ranged from subtle smiles to squeals of delight, but each recipient was equally thrilled Wednesday afternoon as they picked up grants to support their schools' robotics and technology education programs.

The recipients were representatives of 40 schools from North Alabama who were awarded grant money from the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International's Pathfinder Chapter. The grants, which ranged in amount from $400 to $4,000, were awarded in a ceremony at the Huntsville Public Library.

The organization awarded a total of $63,300 to the schools during the ceremony.

"We know you've been cut back in your appropriations," Pathfinder education chairman Joe Fitzgerald told the group, made up mostly of teachers and faculty advisers in robotics. "We hope this helps somewhat with those cuts."

The schools presented Pathfinder with their grant requests at a meeting last week at the library. The awarded grants will allow schools to purchase robot kits, computers and other items that give students an opportunity to learn and to participate in robotics competitions.

"Robotics is a good and meaningful way to help students learn about science," Fitzgerald said. "It's applied science."

Madison city schools that won grants are Horizon, Madison, Mill Creek and West Madison elementary schools and Bob Jones High School. Madison County schools that received grants are Lynn Fanning and New Hope elementary schools.

Wendy Tibbs, enrichment teacher at West Madison Elementary, was thrilled with her program's $1,700 grant.

"We got almost twice what we asked for," Tibbs said. "In this day, that's just amazing."

Sue Zupko, faculty sponsor of Weatherly Heights Elementary's robotics group, said her school's $1,100 grant would allow the students to use up-to-date robot kits.

"This is just a godsend," Zupko said.

Pathfinder also awarded $5,000 grants to the Alabama Council for Technology in Education (ACTE), the Alabama First Lego League and SciQuest. The ACTE grant will help pay for its annual technology fair, which is held each spring at the Von Braun Center.

The First Lego League grant will enable hosting of the Alabama First Lego League Championship, and SciQuest's grant will go toward pilot robotics teams targeting underserved populations and at-risk youth.

Pathfinder also surprised the Huntsville Public Library with a $1,000 grant.

"When our library bleeds, our community bleeds," Fitzgerald said.

The organization has given a total of $84,300 in grant money in 2010, he said.